Stay awake! Your liberation is near

The great Advent journey begins. The Advent readings are a rich tapestry of images centered on the truth that God has come among us. We do not pretend that we are waiting for Jesus to be born in a stable. That happened once, a long time ago, and it will not happen again. We remember that birth as we remember our own birthdays.

The God who came among us is still among us. Advent’s invitation is to become aware of the all-pervading presence of the risen Jesus as Emmanuel – God among us.

In the first reading this Sunday Jeremiah looks forward to the coming of one who will save God’s people, one who acts with honesty and integrity. In the second reading St Paul encourages the people of Thessalonica in their following of Christ. He prays that their love will grow and that their hearts will be ‘confirmed in holiness’. The early Christians believed that Jesus would return very soon as the Lord of Glory.

As time passed, they had to re-think this belief and work out how to live in the meantime, the time in between the first and final comings of Christ. That’s our challenge, too.

Today’s Gospel from St Luke warns Christians not to be distracted by the cares and snares of the world, but to be ready to stand confidently before the Son of Man when he comes. Remaining constant in love and attentive to our calling we become the living presence of Jesus until he comes again.

• pdf Celebrating At Home - 1st Sunday of Advent [PDF] (762 KB)
• default Celebrating At Home - 1st Sunday of Advent [ePub] (5.98 MB)
• pdf Celebrando En Familia - Primer Domingo de Adviento (466 KB)
• pdf Celebrando In Casa - I Domenica di Avvento (465 KB)

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This resource is presented by the Carmelites of Australia & Timor-Leste at a time when we cannot gather together as we usually do to celebrate the Eucharist. We are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own we remain part of the Body of Christ.

In the room you decide to use for this prayer you could have a lighted candle, a crucifix and the Bible. During Advent it is particularly appropriate to have an Advent Wreath in the place where you pray. These symbols help keep us mindful of the sacredness of our time of prayer and can help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.

This text is arranged with parts for a leader and for all to pray, but the leader’s parts can be shared among those present.

As you use this prayer know that the Carmelites will be remembering in our prayer all the members of our family at this time.

Today, the Holy Father, during the Audience granted to His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, authorized the said Congregation to promulgate the Decree concerning the miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Titus Brandsma.

We give thanks to God for the positive outcome obtained and we continue to pray to the Lord, hoping that soon the canonization of Blessed Titus Brandsma will take place.

Read here (only in Italian) the Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office

The Monastery of Santa Catalina in Aracena, Spain, held its triennial elective chapter on November 22.

The results of the elective chapter were as follows:

Prioress: Sr. Mª Remedios Álvarez Soriano

1st councilor: Sr. Elena Mª López Font

2nd councilor: Sr. Mª Leonor Parrilla de la Cruz

Formator: Sr. Elena Mª López Font

Bursar: Sr. Mª Victoria Escamilla Martín

Sacristan: Sr. Mª Leonor Parrilla de la Cruz

The Carmel of St. Stephen Protomartyr in Ravenna, Italy, celebrated its elective chapter on November 21 and 22, accompanied by the prayers of many brothers and sisters who share the beautiful experience of following Jesus.

On the Sunday of Christ the King, November 21, 2021, after the Eucharist celebrated together, the Archbishop, Mons. Lorenzo Ghizzoni, presided over the Chapter for the election of the prioress.

At the first ballot, Sr. M. Anastasia di Gerusalemme Cucca was elected and accepted, with an awareness of the grace of synodality, which in this time is given by the Spirit to the whole Church.

The following day, the Community proceeded with the elections for the other offices.

The results of the elective chapter are as follows:

Prioress: Sr. M. Anastasia di Gerusalemme Cucca

1st Councilor: Sr. M. Elisabetta Mambelli

2nd Councilor: Sr. Hilda M. Duran Polanco

3rd Councilor: Sr. M. Elena Pasca

4th Councilor: Sr. Betania Maria Silverio Taveras

Formator: Sr. M. Elisabetta Mambelli

Bursar: Sr. M. Anastasia Cucca

Sacristan: Sr. M. Barbara Stella

The Advent 2021 Webinar: Traces of the Spirituality of Titus Brandsma will take place this upcoming Saturday, November 27, 2021.

Most of us are familiar with the basic outline of the life of Blessed Titus Brandsma. However, the lack of access to most of his writings, talks, and letters, in English has limited our understanding of his spiritual development from his own words.

Fr. Titus' spirituality-- his living in relationship to his loving God-- enabled him to accept and overcome the many challenges in his life.

During this webinar we will explore some of those moments and Brandsma's perpective. Reflecting on these moments can provide each of us with some illumination on challenges in our own lives and strategies for strengthening our own relationship with our God.

Presented by:
Fr. William J. Harry, O. Carm.

Cost: $ 10.00

Saturday, November 27, 2021
2:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time, US)
4:00 PM (GMT -3, Brazil)
7:00 PM (GMT, Greenwich UK)
8:00 PM (GMT +1, Europe)

REGISTER NOW

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On November 15-16, there was a face-to-face meeting at the General Curia of the Commission for the Reform of the Institutum Carmelitanum. Present were Michael Farrugia, president, Fernando Millán Romeral, Giovanni Grosso, and Mario Alfarano.

The Commission has completed the revision of the Norms of the Institutum and will submit them to the General Council for its approval. These Norms, approved in the General Chapter of 1995, needed to be updated with regards to the aims of the Institutum, its components, and its administration.

The Commission also elaborated a series of proposals regarding: the procedure for implementing the new norms; the areas of Sant'Alberto International Center (CISA) for the use of the Institutum and its security; suggestions for the conservation and enhancement of the cultural heritage of the Order, in particular those useful for the research and transmission of the history and charism of Carmel.

The Provincial Chapter of the Maltese Province was held on November 15-19, 2021, at the Carmelite Retreat Center in Dar Tat-Talb, Lunzjata, Rabat.

Fr. Conrad Mutizamhepo, general councilor for Africa, was president of the Chapter.

The following were elected:

Prior Provincial: Fr. Joseph Saliba

First Councilor: Fr. Maurice Abela

Second Councilor: Fr. Renald Lofreda

Third Councilor: Fr. Jurgen Cucciardi

Fourth Councilor: Br. Vincent Rotin

Provincial Secretary: Fr. Ivan Scicluna

A royal shepherd

On this last Sunday of the Church’s year we always celebrate the Feast of Christ, the Universal King.

The first reading from the prophet, Daniel, speaks of the coming of one who will rule in the name of God in an eternal kingdom. The second reading from the Book of the Apocalypse speaks of Christ as the ‘faithful witness’ to God and ‘ruler of the kings of the earth’. Here is a king who loves his people and sheds his own blood to save them.

The Gospel comes from the Passion of Jesus in St John’s Gospel. It is Jesus’ dialogue with Pilate about his kingship and the nature of his kingdom.

Jesus is anything but a traditional king. This King reigns, not from a golden throne, but a cross of rough wood; naked, with no rich, flowing robes; no bejewelled crown, just thorns; no orb and sceptre, just nails in his hands.

He comes among his people, not as a tyrant wielding weapons of suffering and death, but as a powerless baby.

Jesus says that his kingdom is ‘not of this world’. It is not a kingdom with geographical and national boundaries. It is not a kingdom in the earthly sense where power and oppression reign, but a kingdom where justice, love, mercy, truth and peace reign.

At the end of the day, the disciple is called to be the Kingdom (the living presence) of God in the world and to transform the suffering of its people into joy by deeds of loving kindness.

Virtuous disciples are the living presence of Jesus in the world. They realise that until Jesus comes again, the kingdom has been entrusted into their hands.

In the Kingdom of Jesus, the disciple is not master but ‘servant’.

The power of the spirit of Jesus fuels deeds of loving kindness – reversing horrible human conditions, and bringing healing and salvation.

Whenever we act like Christ the Kingdom of God (the reign of God’s grace) breaks into our world.

Whenever we are moved by the Spirit to proclaim the truth, to respond to need, to work for justice, to transform and heal our society, the Kingdom of God breaks into human reality and the grace of God becomes clearly visible in our words and actions.

• pdf Celebrating At Home - Solemnity of Christ The King [PDF] (1.76 MB)
• default Celebrating At Home - Solemnity of Christ The King [ePub] (5.53 MB)
• pdf Celebrando En Familia - Solemnidad de Cristo Rey (898 KB)
• pdf Celebrando In Casa - Solennità di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo Re (882 KB)

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Celebrating at Home is a Liturgy of the Word centred around the Gospel reading for each Sunday. It includes a reflection on the Gospel and prayers.

It can be used personally or with your family. Parts for all to pray are given in bold print and all the other parts can be shared among those present.

We hope that Celebrating at Home will be a source of nourishment and strength for all who use it.

In the room you decide to use for this prayer you could have a lighted candle, a crucifix and the Bible. These symbols help keep us mindful of the sacredness of our time of prayer and can help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.

Professio Solemnis
15-11-21 José Ivanildo Justino (Flum) São Paolo, Brazil

Ordinatio Diaconalis
25-10-21 Jean de Dieu Kavunga (Ita-RPC) Kinshasa, Dem Rep Congo
25-10-21 Philéomon Kambale (Ita-RPC) Kinshasa, Dem Rep Congo

Ordinatio Sacerdotalis
25-10-21 Noël Kwaya (Ita-Cong) Kinshasa, Dem Rep Congo
25-10-21 Jean-Claude Isusi (Ita-Cong) Kinshasa, Dem Rep Congo
14-11-21 Andres Nono (Indo) Maumere-Flores, Indonesia
14-11-21 Andreas Yorenus Waji Rasi (Indo) Maumere-Flores, Indonesia
14-11-21 Mariano Puken (Indo) Maumere-Flores, Indonesia
14-11-21 Yeremias Geleta Huler (Indo) Maumere-Flores, Indonesia
14-11-21 Yohanes Palaama Belang (Indo) Maumere-Flores, Indonesia

On November 15th, we celebrate the Commemoration of all Carmelite Souls.

From the Collect of the Commemoration of All Carmelite Souls

Lord,
you are the glory of those who serve you.
Look lovingly on our departed brothers and sisters,
united in following Christ and his Mother
by the waters of baptism
and the bonds of Carmel.
In your mercy
grant them everlasting sight of you,
their Creator and Redeemer.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Read here the list of those Carmelites who died during the past 12 months